Missing Iowa teen’s backpack found

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Kathlynn Shepard. (Photo courtesy of Iowa Department of Public Safety)

Missing Iowa teen’s backpack found

Kathlynn Shepard. (Photo courtesy of Iowa Department of Public Safety)

Kathlynn Shepard exiting the school bus on 5-20-2013. Photo from Iowa State Police

During the search for a missing Iowa teenager, police found the 15-year-old’s backpack.

The Iowa State Police said they found the backpacks of Kathlynn Shepard and another young girl who were abducted on Monday, May 20,in Dayton, Iowa. The bags were found late Tuesday evening.

Police also have released a photo of Kathlynn getting off the school bus on Monday. The photo reveals that Kathlynn was wearing a Cubs cap- previously reported as a Vikings cap.

Kathlynn has blonde hair and blue eyes. She is 5-foot, 6-inches tall and weighs 160-pounds. She was last reported wearing a gray sweatshirt and jeans.

On Monday, Kathlynn and a 12-year-old girl were abducted on their walk home, shortly after they got off their school bus, according to police. The younger girl escaped and ran to a nearby home around 4:30 p.m.

The Iowa State Police said the girls’ alleged abductor, 42-year-old Michael Klunder was found dead at a location in Dayton, Iowa around 8 p.m. on Monday. Police say his injuries were self-inflicted. At the home, police also found a red pickup which was described by the 12-year-old.

Investigators have asked hunters who may have placed hunting cameras in the area to check their recorders.